fan

\ ˈfan

Definition of fan

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : any of various devices for winnowing grain

2 : an instrument for producing a current of air: such as

a : a device that is held in the hand and moved back and forth to cool a person and that is usually shaped like a segment of a circle and composed of material (such as feathers or paper) mounted on thin rods or slats moving about a pivot so that the device may be closed compactly when not in use

b : a device that consists of a series of vanes radiating from a hub rotated on its axle by a motor a ceiling fan to stir the air

c slang : an airplane propeller

3a : something resembling an open fan (such as the leaf of certain palms)

b : a gently sloping fan-shaped body of detritus especially : alluvial fan

fan

verb

fanned; fanning

Definition of fan (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air

b : to eliminate (chaff) by winnowing

2 : to move or impel (air) with a fan

3 : to blow or breathe upon the breeze fanning her hair

4a : to direct a current of air upon with a fan

b : to stir up to activity as if by fanning : stimulate fanning the fires of nationalism

5 archaic : wave

6 slang : spank

7 : to spread like a fan the peacock fanned his tail

8 : to strike (a batter) out in baseball

9 : to fire a series of shots from (a single-action revolver) by holding the trigger back and successively striking the hammer to the rear with the free hand

intransitive verb

1 : to move like a fan : flutter

2 : to spread like a fan —often used with outthe searchers fanned out

3 : strike out sense 3

fan

noun (2)

Definition of fan (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator

2 : an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit) science-fiction fans

Other Words from fan Synonyms & Antonyms The Fanatical Origin of Fan More Example Sentences Learn More about fan

Keep scrolling for more

The Fanatical Origin of Fan

There are a good number of etymological myths in the English language, stories about the origins of words (such as the widespread notion that posh originated as an acronym for “port out, starboard home”) which are, to put it kindly, inaccurate. But this does not mean that every vivid account of linguistic origin is fictitious. Many words, such as fan, do have colorful backstories.

Fan is generally–and very likely correctly–believed to be a shortened form of fanatic. The origin of fanatic (which can be traced back to the Latin word fanum, meaning “sanctuary, temple”) is less often commented on. In English, fan made an early appearance in the late 17th century only to disappear for two centuries, resurfacing in the late 19th century. In this later period of use, it often referred to the devoted observers of, or participants in, a sport. An 1885 article from The Kansas City Times, for example, contains the line “The base ball ‘fans’ of the ploice [sic] force and fire department engage in a ball game.”